Loose-leaf binder



June 30, 1942. J-. P. GUINANE 42,288,189

` LoosE LEAF BINDER Filed Feb. 21. 1941 INVENTOR.

fl TTORNE Y Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED. STATES PAT OFFICE LoosEfLEAF BINDER James P. ,Guinana New YorkyN. Y. Application February 21, 1941, serial No. 879,954

2 anims. (o1. 1291v v My invention relates to loose-leaf binders and more particularly to loose-leaf binder locking devices adapted to maintain the binder in different degrees of opening.

Loose-leaf binders having such locking devices are well known in the art and the locking means generally comprise pawl and detent mechanisms operated by an accessible finger piece.

It is the principal object of my invention to simplify the locking means by eliminating the usual finger piece, providing an automatic device which locks the binder in the position selected by the operator. Furthermore, the selection does not entail a separate, positive action but automatically accompanies the act f opening the binder.

Another object of my invention is to provide such locking means which, since no access thereto is required, may be disposed in any available position, such as the center of the binder and whereby space is conserved by the elimination of manual operating means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a self-locking loose-leaf binder whose locking construction shall be durable and positive.

Another object of my invention is to provide simple and effective means whereby the binder is closed and locked in such closed position, the function of the usual finger piece being assumed by the cover members of the binder.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description, it being understood that the above general statements of the objects of my invention are intended to describe and not to limit it in any manner.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a loose-leaf binder in the closed position as regards the locking means, the cover members of the binder being swung back.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the binder in the partly opened, or reading position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the binder entirely opened, or in the sheet removing or inserting position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of part of the locking mechanism.

The binder comprises the cover members I0 and II having the two metal angles I2 and I3 connected thereto as by rivets I4, and hinged together along the center of the back of the binder around a hinge pin I`5.

Secured to the upright legs of angles I2 and I3 as by spot-welding, riveting or otherwise, are

the prong members I6 and I'I. Said prong members I6 and I'I are shown herein as constituting a pair of respectively integral prong and prongbar constructions although ani7 of the well known types of prong construction may be employed.

To theyangle I2 is secured, as by the rivet I8, thearcuate female locking member I9. Oppositely disposed thereto on the angle I3, as by the rivet I8a, is a plate 20 having the tubular housing 2I` frictionally retained in an opening in said plate 20.

Maintained within the tubular housing 2|, as a male locking member, is a coil spring 22 urging the metal ball 23 toward the upper, open end of the housing 2|. Said upper end of housing 2l is reduced as by tapering so as to be of a diameter slightly less than that of the ball 23. Thus, about one-third or three-eighths of the ball is normally disposed outside of the housing 2|.

The arcuate locking member I9 has two openings 24 and 25 formed therein of a size to retain the normally exposed portion of ball 23 and thereby determine the angular relation of the angles I2 and I3. The free end 26 of said arcuate locking member I9 is bevelled so as not to impede the inward movement of the ball 23 from the completely opened position shown in Fig. 4.

My invention is practiced in the following manner:

When the contents of the binder are to be consulted, the binder is opened and the movement utilized therefor is effective in forcing the ball 23 out of the opening 24 against the action of the spring 22. The ball 23 then comes to astop at, and is retained within, the opening 25, the position illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus, the one act of opening the binder automatically accomplishes the shifting of the binder to the reading position. Should it be desired to insert or remove sheets from the binder, the swinging movement of the covers may be continued and the binder will then assume the position of Fig. 4.

It will be observed, inl Figs. 2 and 3, that the inner portions of the .cover members form a substantially U-shaped back and that the substantially vertical walls of the back extend above and below the hinge pin I5. Thus when pressure is exerted on these walls below the hinge connection, it causes the locking members to separate. This action may open the binder from the position shown in Fig. 2, to that shown in Fig. 3, and from the position shown in-Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4.

Closure of the binder is effected in a novel and simple manner. Assuming the binder to be either in the reading or sheet-inserting position, the cover members l0 and Il are swung to the closing position wherein they are substantially parallel and the pressure thus applied to close the binder is transmitted through the cover members whereupon the ball 23 is first depressed and then finally engaged in the opening 24. Should this engagement be incompleted, the user may merely apply some pressure at any point along the lines 21 and 28 whereupon the angles I2 and I3 are constrained to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 2. It is noted therefore that pressure exerted on the walls of the U- shaped back above the hinge connection eifects the closing of the binder. Thus the usual finger piece is entirely dispensed with, the disengagement of the ball 23 being effected by the walls of the Openings of the female member I9 in response to the resulting lateral inward or outward pressure applied to the locking members.

The arcuate locking member` I9 is preferably, but not necessarily, formed of a resilient steel so that a good union with the ball 23 is always secured.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is obvious that numerous changes and omissions may be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. A loose-leaf binder comprising a U-shaped back having a central hinge and a pair of cover members hingedly connected to the upper edges of the back, a pair 0f hinged angle members respectively connected to the inner sides of said back and having a hinge connection between them overlying said back, a female locking member connected to one of said angle members and a yieldable male member connected to the other of said angle members, said female member having a plurality of openings engageable by said male member to determine the locked angular relationship of said angle members, the vertical walls of said back extending above and below said hinge connection of said angle members, whereby inward pressure exerted on the vertical walls of said back below said hinge connection causes said locking members to separate so as to open the binder and whereby inward pressure exerted on the vertical walls of said back above said hinge connection causes said locking members to approach each other so as to close the binder.

2.' A loose-leaf binder according to claim 1 wherein said male member comprises a housing having an open end, a ball retained at said open end and spring means located within said housing and operative to urge said ball outwardly of said open end so as to engage said female member openings.

JAMES P. GUINANE. 

